Anchor



NOV. 8, 1949 HESS 7 2,487,549

' ANCHOR Filed June 1, 1945 LOOR VOCEAN F awn/rm lY/f/VESS:

/%/Z7y Lawrence 6 655 Patented Nov. 8, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANCHOR Henry Lawrence Hess, Lansdowne Park, Pa. Application June 1, 1945, Serial No. 597,073

1 The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved anchor, of the two-pronged and preferably (but not necessarily) stockless type, which functions to anchor the boat in a way similar to that in which anchorsof that type function and which is so constructed that in the event, due to drifting or walking of the boat, that the anchor is pulled out of holding engagement with the sea, lake or river bottom, such drifting or walking will be effective, before the boat has moved to any considerable distance, to automatically again embed the anchoring arms or flukes and thus re-anchor the boat in the position to which it has moved.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which:

Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 are diagrammatic views illustrating the different positions that the'anchor assumes in shifting from one anchoring position to another. Fig. 5 is a plan View, and Fig. 6 a side View, of the anchor. Fig. 7 is a detail View of a modification. Fig. 8 is a side view of the anchor in a typical anchoring position.

on the shaft a are turnable three hubs (which are turnable relative each to the others) a central hub b and two end hubs f, f. Integral with, or secured to, the hub b is the shank c, which extends along a line intersecting and perpendicular to the axis of the hubs. The shank is provided, at its outer end, with the usual ring d. Extending on opposite sides of the shank c, and integral with, or secured to, either the shank c or hub b, or to both the shank and hub, are

two arcuate wings e, e, concentric with the hub.

1 Claim. (Cl. 114-208) on opposite sides of, and equidistant from, a plane coincident with the plane of the corresponding fluke g. i

It will be observed, on the drawing, that the bases of the prongs i, k extend within the arc (constituting the larger part of the circumference of a circle) between the ends of the Wings To each of the end hubs f is secured an anchoring fluke g, which is shown as an approximately fiat bar tapered toward the bill or pee h at its outer end. However, the shape of the fluke is not an essential feature of the invention. The flukes 9 function to engage and grip the holding ground at the water bottom. At their inner ends the anchoring flukes g are preferably of a width corresponding to the length of the hubs f to which they are secured and extend in a plane coincident with the aXis of the hubs.

Also secured to each end hub f is a pair of prongs i, k. Each prong extends in a plane coincident with the axis of the hubs and has a base which extends inward to overlap, for a substantial distance, the central hub 11., The prongs are short relative to the length of the flukes 9.

Like the flukes they are shown as approximatelyfiat bars extending in a plane coincident with the axis of the hubs. The prongs i, k of each pair are e, e'. The turning movement of each and hub relative to the central hub in either direction is limited by the abutment of the base of one of the prongs i, it against one of the wings e, c.

It will be noted, from the above description, that the anchor is of the known two flukes type, and is preferably without a stock.

In operation the bill ends of the anchoring flukes g dig into and are embedded in the clay, sand, gravel, or mud bottom, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

An objection to this type of anchor is that the boat may drift or walk during anchored periods and may reach such a position relative to the anchor as to exert a pull thereon in the direction shown by the arrow at the top of Fig. 1 and disengage the bill end of the anchoring fluke from the ground in which it was embedded, thus allowing the anchor to drag. It then has no function in restraining further drifting of the boat except its own inherent Weight. While the absence of a stock frees it of the danger of fouling the cable, which exists in the case of the old-fashioned and stillstandard type of anchor, it has definitely less holding power than the standard type of anchor and therefore insurance requirements demand that stockless anchors be fluke g and having certain directions of extension relative to that of the fluke, and the limitation of the turning movement of the prongs and fluke relative to the shank 0. Another feature is that the two end hubs J not only have a limited turning movement relative to the central hub b and shank c but are turnable independently of 3 each other, so that the boat will be anchored even though but one fluke grips the water bottom.

The capacity of the anchor to operate to automatically re-anchor the boat in case the latter should drift into such position that neither fluke is in gripping postion will be understood by again referring to Fig. 1. Any sufficiently strong pull on the shank c in the direction of the arrow will cause the wing e to abut against the prong k and lift the anchor, on the end of prong i as a fulcrum, into the position shown in Fig. 2, the fluke g being by this movement lifted out of anchoring position. Continued pull on the shank will embed the end of prong k, as shown in Fig. 3, and lower the anchor until the fluke g contacts with the water bottom, after which continued pull on the shank 0 will embed the fluke in the water bottom and reanchor the boat, as shown in Fig. 4.

In Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, of the drawings it is assumed that the water bed is readily and deeply penetrable by the fiukes, as is the case where the bed is, for example, of soft mud or loose gravel. If the bed is one not so easily penetrable, the flukes will assume, in their anchoring position, a more nearly horizontal position, which, however, will sufiice to effect firm anchorage. The pull on the shank may be such as to make it assume various angles to the horizontal. In designing the anchor it is desirable to so dimension the parts thereof that the shank, in anchoring position, may assume a position not substantially exceeding 45 to the horizontal and that the fiukes shall be capable of penetrating the water bed at an angle not substantially exceeding 30 or 32. Provision, therefore, should be made to allow the central hub, carrying the shank, to swing relative to the end hubs, carrying the flukes, not over twice 75, or about 150. It is desirable that the prongs, carried by each end hub, should not be spaced apart an arcuate distance substantially exceeding 90, as otherwise, if the fiukes in anchoring position have little depth of penetration, the hubs will assume too high a position above the floor of the water bed. Another reason for limiting the angular distance between the prongs of a pair is hereinafter set forth. Assunning the angular distance between the prongs of a pair to be 80, if the wings e, 2' were omitted the central hub, carrying the shank, would have an angular movement relative to the end hubs, carrying the flukes and prongs, of 280. In order to limit the relative angular movement of the end hubs and central hub to about 150, the width of each of the wings e, e should be about 65. The above described dimensions need not be strictly adhered to, since the permissive relative angular movements of the end hubs and central hub and the permissive angular distance between the prongs of a pair are variable within certain limits. It is, however, desirable that the relative angular movements of the end hubs and central hub should not exceed 154 and that the angular distance between the pron s of a pair should not exceed 90.

Another factor limiting the angular distance between the prongs of a pair is that, if the maximum angle of penetration of a fluke is on the order of 30, it is desirable that the corresponding prong which at that time engages the floor bed should not deeply penetrate the same but should assume an angle to the floor bed of about 6 and not over 20. The nearest angular distance between a fluke and either of the corresponding prongs should not therefore be less than 130 and preferably should be on the order of 144. The preferred distance between the prongs of a pair is therefore about 72 (say between 68 and and should not exceed Since it is highly undesirable to have a prong penetrate beyond an angle of about 13, the maximum desirable distance between the prongs of a pair should be limited to 86.

The limitations on angular distances and angular motions above discussed are essential in order that the anchor may have the mode of operation illustrated in Fig. 1 to 4, inclusive, and hereinbefore described.

Instead of securing the wings e, e, to the shank or the central hub, similar wings m, m may be secured to the prongs, and a bar n may be secured to the central hub and extend, preferably, throughout the length thereof, the shank being secured to the center of the bar; the bar n and one pair of prongs abutting when the shank is swung to either extreme position. This modification is shown on Fig. 7. It is obvious, too, that these abutting elements may be formed partly on the central hub or shank and partly on the prong bases.

The above description assumes a pull on the shank c in a direction more or less approaching parallelism with the direction of extension of the flukes. But a similar operation will occur if the pull is in a direction at a pronounced angle to the direction of extension of the fiukes; and such pull may be effective to operate, substantially as described, only the prongs and fluke secured to one of the end hubs and to anchor only one of the flukes. It is in fact impossible for the boat, if the anchor loses its grip, to drift in any direction without effecting automatic reanchoring by one or the other fluke or by both flukes.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that my improved anchor has all the recognized advantages of the two-pronged stockless type with equal holding power and has the additional advantage that if the holding power is lost by drifting oi the boat into a position that releases the anchoring flukes the boat cannot drift far from its originally anchored position without automatically so operating one or both anchoring flukes as to again embed one or both of them into the water bottom and thus re-anchor the boat.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

An anchor comprising a central hub, end hubs turnable on the same axis as the central hub independently of each other and independently of the central hub, a shank secured to and extending radially from the axis of the central hub, anchoring fiukes one secured to each end hub and extending radially from the axis thereof, a pair of non-gripping prongs secured to each end hub and extending radially from the axis thereof, the prongs of each pair and the corresponding anchoring flukes being on opposite sides of the axis and equidistant from the plane of the corresponding anchoring fluke, mutually engaging stops turnable respectively with each end hub and with the central hub,.the angle subtended by the prongs of a pair not exceeding by over 10 a right angle, and the mutually engaging stops turnable respectively with the end hubs and the central hub being spaced apart to allow a relative angular movement between them substantially greater than a right angle and nearer to but substantially less than whereby when 

